Jazz Reserve Collins Out for Season

Published 8:00 pm, Thursday, December 12, 2002

Utah Jazz center Jarron Collins will miss the rest of the season after tearing ligaments in his right knee.

Collins injured the knee Thursday night in the second quarter of the Jazz's loss to the New Orleans Hornets. Collins jumped to block a shot by Eldon Campbell and the players collided on the way down, causing Collins to land awkwardly. Collins was helped off the court and did not return.

The initial report was a sprain, but an MRI showed Collins had ruptured the medial collateral and anterior cruciate ligaments, as well as the medial meniscus. Jazz trainer Gary Briggs said Collins will be out eight-to-nine months.

Collins, a second-year player out of Stanford, backed up starter Greg Ostertag and averaged 5.5 points and 2.7 rebounds in 22 games.

His injury leaves Utah with Ostertag and John Amaechi at center. Rookie Curtis Borchardt has been on the injured list all season as he recovers from foot surgery.